Johnny Bench: big Buster Posey fan

John Shea reporting from the winter meetings, where exec Pat Gillick was elected to the Hall of Fame this morning by the veterans committee . . .

Johnny Bench loves Buster Posey. And why not?

The Hall of Fame catcher said of the Rookie of the Year catcher, “I couldn’t be happier for the kid.”

Bench is here as a voting member of the veterans committee. After the Gillick news was announced, Bench told a few reporters he phoned Posey two weeks ago to congratulate him on his run to the World Series.

“The thing’s that so impressive, everybody saw in every interview, it was a class act,” Bench said. “He handled himself well. It was like a Tuesday game somewhere else, and he just got four hits. It was about being on the level with the game. He knows as a catcher knows, it’s one game. Then you’ve got to start all over.”

Posey knows Bench, having won the Johnny Bench Award as the best college catcher in 2008.

In their conversation, according to Bench, Posey said, “I asked my mom, ‘Should we call you and talk to you?’ I said, ‘Of course you should.’ “

Bench said Posey has what it takes to be a great catcher.

“He was a shortstop that became a catcher (at Florida State), so every game is still a learning experience for him,” Bench said. “He wasn’t beaten down or anything else. He’s a kid who loves the game. You can tell from his coach and family what a great person he is. And then to move up (to the majors) that quickly is really rare. You’ve got to say he’s a rare example of any phenom that stands up and does the job . He throws well. Calls the game. He’s got it all. And he runs well . . . for a catcher.”

Bench was impressed how Posey, at such a young age, handled pitchers. In this case, perhaps the best staff in the majors.

“There are three types of pitchers you have to deal with,” Bench said. “Some you just have to tell what town they’re in, remind them where they are. Some you remind them about mechanics, and some you have to bust their tail. You have to make them your friend and have them trust you.”